Fall ILC

Student or Group Info

Name: Aubrey Evelo
Term: Fall 2023
Credits: 12
Title of ILC: Experimental Darwinian Honeybee Hive

Field Supervisor

Field Supervisor: Sarah Williams
Title: Faculty
Organization: TESC

Subcontractor

Name: Don Jensen
Title: Wood Shop Instructional Support Technician
Organization: TESC

Name: Trisha Towanda
Title: Arts and Sciences Operations Manager
Organization: TESC

Name: Erik Thuesen
Title: Faculty
Organization: TESC

Project Description

Narrative: This contract entitled Experimental Darwinian Honeybee Hive, is intended to practice the process of scientific research, writing, fabrication, and education. Formulating an experimental hive design for an intended outcome, fabricating a functional product to be tested, exploring related sources for possible improvement of design or testing, and documenting the process in an eportfolio will provide the student with necessary experience in the field of ecological research. Fabrication of the hive will take place at TESC woodworking studio under the supervision of Don Jensen. Written work will include a research paper about honeybees’ response to their nesting environments and management to be evaluated by Erik Thuesen. The student will also collaborate to form a student run Bee Stewardship Club with peers to care for TESC’s resident honeybees and present to a class on the process of the fabrication, documentation, and writing.

Learning objective	Activity	Deliverable
To design and fabricate a product (hive) to accommodate the hypothesis that a manmade hive could impart its occupant colony with desirable self-grooming and immune traits to be spread to surrounding populations.	I will build a full-sized honeybee hive following the principles of Darwinian beekeeping with oversight from Don Jensen at TESC woodworking studio.	I will create a wordpress website documenting my progress and submit my final product for evaluation and testing.
To practice scientific research and writing to accompany my hypothesis.	I will research and write a paper on beekeeping practices focused on acclimation of honeybees for climate and pathogen immunity.	I will submit the final research  paper for evaluation.
To educate peers on the subject of apiculture and “rewilding” at TESC.	I will collaborate with peers to try to form a Bee Stewardship Club to educate students about honeybees and perform hands-on care for TESC’s resident honeybees. I will also present to a class the final products of my project and review the process.	I will present my website and provide a tour of the fabrication process for peers, and give any details regarding the formation and meeting of the club.